Joaquin Phoenix feels like "Santa Claus in a mall" when people try to take his photo.

The Hollywood star has previously revealed he prefers to live a "private life" when he isn't working. Joaquin still finds it strange when he is spotted while out in public and fans ask him to pose for a photograph or give an autograph.

"I think that sometimes maybe I feel like Santa Claus at a mall when a kid wants to take your picture," he explained to British newspaper The Guardian when asked if he feels he is treated differently because he is a celebrity.

"I went to see this band and this guy came up and said: 'Oh, can I take a picture of you; I'm a real fan.' And I said: 'Look, man, I just got here, if it's OK, I don't wanna just walk in and take a picture - it'd make me feel awkward.' And he just turned and walked away, very angry at me. It didn't seem like it was someone you revere, it was more like I was some three-headed bullfrog they wanted to snap a picture of."

The 38-year-old actor's latest movie role is in the critically acclaimed drama The Master. Despite garnering a series of awards and nominations during his career, Phoenix insists people rarely see him as a fountain of knowledge.

"I'm just saying I don't have the experience of being treated with great reverence," he added. "I'd rather just be a f**king little Santa Claus than someone treated with some reverence. And by the way, that happens maybe once every 17-and-a-half years so it's not something that I deal with on a regular occurrence."